Orange partners with Nashua Mobile to open in South Africa its first retail outlets outside of its operator footprintThursday, 13 June 2013

Orange has signed a partnership with Nashua Mobile that will enable it to expand its activity in South Africa by opening several physical retail outlets in the country. This partnership is a logical next step for Orange following the launch of an e-commerce store and an online portal designed specifically for the South African market in January. The agreement with Nashua Mobile will allow Orange to extend its business, which is currently based exclusively on the online commercialization of specialist electronic and telecoms-related products, to the provision of a fully-fledged in-store service throughout South Africa, complete with support for travellers, both inbound and outbound.

"This is another world first for Orange in which South Africa is the first market where this is being implemented. Orange Horizons, Orange's subsidiary for seeking out new business opportunities in countries where the Group is not already present as a mass-market telecommunications provider, targeted South Africa as a key entry market in the African space and today's announcement is an important step forward in our overall development strategy," says Sébastien Crozier, CEO of Orange Horizons.

Nashua Mobile CEO Mark Taylor says this innovative partnership will benefit locals as well as foreign customers of Orange. “Nashua Mobile is one of South Africa’s largest independent telecommunications service providers, and we’re delighted to provide the first physical presence here for Orange,” he said. “This partnership showcases the continued expansion of both companies and offers local and international customers greater choice and service.”

The first Nashua Mobile stores to incorporate Orange products and an in-store Orange-brand presence will be in Sandton City in Johannesburg, Brooklyn Mall in Pretoria and both Icon Centre and Canal Walk in Cape Town. All products will also be available through the online store for travellers not passing through these areas.

Both the online and physical stores will offer SIM cards from the Orange footprint, starting with France and Botswana. These will be marketed in particular for professionals or tourists travelling from South Africa to countries in which Orange is already present. This will allow travellers to be able to better prepare their journeys, like having their local phone number before their trip.